Women's Folic Acid Levels Improving

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Tamura said the CDC study is an important step toward monitoring folic acid and the ongoing impact of the U.S. fortification program. But a systematic study is also required to identify any potential side effects, he said.

"We need to have monitoring of how much we are eating and whether there is any danger of giving too much folic acid to the general population," Tamura said. Factors such as how much enriched grain someone consumes and the use of supplements, such as power drinks that contain folic acid, can make a difference in levels, he believes.

The fortification program "is a great thing we've achieved, but we should be very careful," Tamura said.

More information

Find out more about nutrition at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.